Esther 1: “Introduction To The Book Of Esther / Queen Vashti Is Dethroned And Divorced”
By
1. TIMELINE:
These graphs depict the timeline of the Old Testament, and note that the events in the book of Esther cover a period of history after the Babylonian captivity that most believe occurred during the third year of the reign of king Xerxes, or approx. 484-483 BC.
Graph of Persian kings & Jewish companies sent out by them to Judea:
2. PECULARITIES.
2.1. The book of Esther is unique in that it was a book that had a hard time being accepted into the canon of scriptures by the Jews because of several peculiarities in it which are not found in any other book in the scriptures :
2.1.1. The Name of God is never mentioned in the book.
2.1.1.1.Though God’s Name is never mentioned in the book, it is obvious that the Lord is working behind the scenes in every chapter of the book.
2.1.2. The Lord is not directly alluded to.
2.1.2.1.The story of how the destruction of God’s people is averted by the courage and faith of a young Jewish woman who is put into a position of prominence where she chooses to use her influence for the Lord is a moving story and evidences the under workings of the Lord behind the scenes.
2.1.3. A prayer is not recorded in the book.
2.1.3.1.In Es 4:16, Esther does ask Mordecai to get the Jews to fast and pray for her before she talks to the king about his decree to have all of the Jews killed.
2.1.4. Jerusalem, the city of God, nor Judea, are mentioned.
2.1.4.1.The setting of the story is in Susa, the capital of Persia, and involves directly those Jews who were not part of the various groups under Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah who chose to relocate to Jerusalem when given the chance. However, the decree which Esther thwarts, that the Jews were to be destroyed in all of the Persian kingdom, held jurisdiction over the Israelites in Judea as well as Persia and Babylon.
2.1.5. The temple in Jerusalem is never mentioned.
2.1.6. God’s purposes in the world and with His people are never mentioned.
2.2. The question of why the Holy Spirit chose to incorporate the various peculiarities in the book is worth speculating about I believe:
2.2.1. Was the fact that the principle Jewish actors in this book, Mordecai and Esther, had chosen to live in Persia rather than relocate to Judean when given the chance, a reason to not include the Name of God, the city of God, a recorded prayer, the temple, etc.?
2.2.1.1.It is interesting how the books of Ezra and Nehemiah contrast with this book in their insertion of the Name of the Lord and the other elements left out of Esther.
2.2.2. The Holy Spirit’s purpose for the inspiration of the book of Esther evidently didn’t need to include these things that are left out of the book.
3. PURPOSE(S):
3.1. To tell the story of how the feast of Purim came about and was implemented by the Jews.
3.2. To show how the Lord works behind the scenes providentially protecting and providing for His people, anticipating every need and difficulty they shall encounter.
3.3. To illustrate how that God humbles the proud and exalts the humble.
3.4. To illustrate how one person’s faithfulness in using their position and station in life for God’s purposes can make a huge difference, and how God can use our lives (“How do you know that you have not been put here for such a purpose as this?”).
3.5. To tell the story of how once again in the history of the world that though the Jews were persecuted that the Lord kept them from annihilation.
3.6. To give us an illustration of the battle of control in a Christian’s life between the flesh and the Spirit.
Ian Thomas wrote an interesting book on Esther called, “If I Perish I Perish.” He looks at the book from the perspective of the Lord causing it to be written to show an allegorical picture of the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life. The king represents the soul or will of the believer. Esther represents the spirit in the believer. Mordecai represents the Holy Spirit. Haman represents the fleshly nature. Haman (the flesh) is initially ruling the house and Mordecai (the Holy Spirit) is outside. Mordecai needs to get into the house, but the wrong man is in, that wicked Haman. One of the two have to die, Mordecai or Haman. Haman being an Amalekite, is a descendant of Esau. Malachi 1:4 and Exodus 17 tell us that the Lord was continually at war with the Amalekites, generation to generation. Since the Lord determined there was nothing good in Amalek, the Amalekites were to be exterminated. In 1 Sam. 15, Saul was supposed to kill off all of the Amalekites but he spared king Agag, and the best of the spoil. Evidently, some of the descendants of the Amalekites were also spared by Saul, and thus we have this mess. This was Saul’s sin and really the last straw before his kingdom was taken away from him by the prophet Samuel, “he kept the best of what God hated,” as Thomas states. Ian Thomas, in another one of his books, The Saving Life of Christ, writes about how that he believes the Amalekites in the scripture being perennial enemies of Israel illustrate the battle with the flesh. Anyway, Mordecai (representing the Holy Spirit and His work in the believer’s life) tells Esther that she needs to intercede to the king to have Haman’s plan of destruction overthrown, and she finally determines to do that and as a result Haman (who represents the flesh) is put to death and Mordecai is let in and assumes rule over the kingdom (the place where Haman had ruled).
4. AUTHORSHIP:
4.1. The name of the writer for this book is not given, nor can it be extracted from examination of the text. This leads us to speculate as to whom the author might be.
4.2. The leading candidates for authorship of the book are:
4.2.1. Mordecai (the uncle of Esther).
4.2.2. Ezra (he came to Jerusalem about 25 years after the events of the book of Esther).
4.2.3. Nehemiah (he came along about 37 years after the events of the book of Esther).
5. INSIGHT INTO LIFE IN THE PERSIAN DYNASTY:
5.1. King Ahasuerus, who is most likely named Xerxes, was a tyrannical dictator who had absolute power in his kingdom. If anyone came into his presence unannounced and he did not extend out his scepter, the person was to be put to death. He would do good and put to death at his own caprice. Ahasuerus is willing to sign a bill legislating the genocide of an entire race of people just because Haman, one of his advisors, does not like them (officially it is said to be because their laws are a bit different and they don’t submit to all of the king’s laws—something that is not investigated or even explained). The Pulpit Commentary writes the following about Ahasuerus: “The man who led two millions of soldiers against the Greeks, who scourged the sea, and put to death the engineers of his bridge because their work was injured by a storm, was the same man who insulted his queen for her modesty, and who was ready to massacre a people in order to gratify a favorite.”
5.2. King Ahasuerus holds a feast for six months straight for all of his princes and the nobles, we understand some of his motives from looking at the text, just as the Pulpit Commentary states: “Ostentation was a main feature in the character of Xerxes. The huge army with which he invaded Greece was more for display that for service. Vain parade is apparent at every step of his expedition. He now exhibits “the riches of his kingdom” to his nobles and chief officers, showing them doubtless all the splendours of the palace, the walls draped with gold, the marble pillars and rich hangings, the golden plane tree and the golden vine, and perhaps the ingots of gold wherewith Darius had filled the treasury.”
5.3. At the end of that six months he holds a feast for seven days straight for all of the peoples. At this feast he gets drunk with his officers and requests that Vashti, the queen and his wife, leave the feast she is holding for the women of the kingdom, and come over and show off her beauty. He surely wanted her to remove her veil and who knows what else, before his drunken guests. Then, when she refuses due to her conviction of modesty, the king is enraged. The next day, he asks his advisors what they think should be done because of her refusal of his unreasonable request, and when they say that if the queen is not removed that women everywhere will despise their husbands, the king agrees and signs a law which cannot be revoked to have her removed as queen and put away as wife.
5.4. Because the Persian kings were exalted and considered to be gods, their laws and decrees which they made could not be reversed because to do so would be to admit that they had faults and were not perfect.
6. ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF THE FEAST OF PURIM:
The New Bible Dictionary writes the following about the origin and practice of the feast of Purim which was instituted by the Jews (see Esther 9:24–32):
PURIM. A Jewish festival celebrated during the 13–15th days of the month Adar. On this occasion the book of Esther is read, and traditionally the congregation in the synagogue shouts and boos whenever the name of Haman is mentioned. The book of Esther gives the origin of the festival. In the reign of Ahasuerus, probably Xerxes (486–465BC) but possibly Artaxerxes II (404–359 BC), *Haman, the vizier, determined to massacre all the Jews. Since he was a superstitious man, he cast lots to find an auspicious day. The word pűr, which in Est. 3:7; 9:24, 26, is said to mean ‘lot’, is not a Hebrew word, but is almost certainly the Assyrian puru, which means a pebble, or small stone, which would be used for casting lots.
The earliest reference to the festival outside the OT is 2 Macc. 15:36, where a decree is made in 161 bc to celebrate annually the defeat of Nicanor by Judas Maccabaeus on ‘the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is called Adar in the Syrian language—the day before Mordecai’s day’. If 2 Maccabees is dated somewhere in the middle of the 1st century bc, this shows that by 50 bc Purim was celebrated on the 14th of Adar. The parallel passage in 1 Macc. 7:49 speaks of the institution of what was later called Nicanor’s Day on the 13th of Adar, but makes no reference to Purim on the 14th. No conclusions can be drawn from this silence.
Harper’s Bible Dictionary adds the following about the feast of Purim:
The holiday is preceded by the Fast of Esther, commemorating the period of assembly and fasting before the deliverance. On Purim, according to Talmudic practice, the Megillah (Scroll of Esther) is read in the synagogue, charity is distributed, gifts of food are exchanged, and a festive meal is eaten.
I have a friend who has attended a Christian church led by completed Jews, and I asked her what the feasts of Purim they have attended were like, and this is her response to me:
Traditional & so fun. The Book of Esther is read (Megilla) outloud & when Mordechai & Esther's name are read everyone cheers, when Haman's name is mentioned his name is boo'd and grogged out with groggers. The children dress up as the characters in the story, the little girls dress up and have a "beauty contest".... My children loved making the Hamantashen which are ... butter cookies cut in a circle w/ jams & fillings in the middle then folded into a triangle that looks like Haman's hat. There is teaching about antisemitism etc and then Bible verses printed up for the Esther (Hadassah).... really festive and fun! Oh, and the scriptures w/ Esther (Hadassah) had to do with fasting & prayer.
We will also discuss in a later study some of the Jewish beliefs regarding a prophesy in the book of Esther that they believe was fulfilled in 1946 at the Nuremberg trials.
7. In our study today, we are going to look at chapter 1.
7.1. We will take a look at the extravagant lifestyle of the king of Persia, as well as the fact that he was a man who was filled with vainglory and pride, and he ruled as a egomaniac tyrant over his empire.
7.1.1. He will host a huge feast for all his princes, nobles and attendants that lasts for a period of 6 months. The purpose of the feast is not to show that he cared for his servants but rather so that he might show off his extravagance and glory.
7.1.2. Archeological digs tells us that the king’s palace in Susa was huge, and history records that the Persian kings would sometimes feed as many as 15,000 at his table.
7.1.3. At this feast, king Ahasuerus shows off the riches and splendor of his royalty, in all of their glory. Then, at the end of the six months of feasting, he holds a week long banquet at the citadel in Susa. .
7.1.4. King Ahasuerus was intoxicated with his own pride, and after he becomes intoxicated with some wine as well on the last of the week long feasting at the citadel, he decides to have his wife, Queen Vashti, come out and show off her beauty. But, when she out of her own modesty of character refuses to come to the king he becomes enraged. Then, the next day when he asks his officials what he should do, they tell him that he should divorce her otherwise women all over the kingdom will follow her example and not respect and be in submission to their husbands in all of his wishes, and he takes their advice and issues a decree.
7.1.5. The king foolishly follows the advice of his counselors and divorces Vashti, however it is an act that he later regrets. But, because the law of the Medes and Persians cannot be overturned, the king decides to look for another woman to marry and make queen of Persia.
7.1.5.1.We will talk about the danger that is involved whenever someone gives you their advice, or you read some words of advice (they may be good intentioned but wrong), and you don’t first pray about what they have advised.
7.1.5.2.Advice received needs to be prayed over not just blindly accepted.
7.1.6. We will talk about the danger of allowing anger in our life:
7.1.7. We will talk about how it is never worth while to compromise on what your conscience dictates you should have for modesty, even if it is at the behest of your husband.
7.1.7.1.Husbands need to not demand things of their wives that compromise their modesty and convictions, and if they truly love them they will do this.
8. VS 1:1 - “1 Now it took place in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces,” - The name of the king that reign at this time was ‘Ahasuerus’ and his kingdom was huge, spanning from India to Ethiopia
8.1. ‘Ahasuerus’ appears to be not a literal name but rather a title. Ezra (Ez. 4:6) and Daniel (Dan. 9:1) both wrote about an ‘Ahasuerus’ and this tend to mean to us that this was a title as opposed to a name.
8.2. King Xerxes is the only king of this inner-biblical period who reigned ‘from India to Ethiopia.’ This covered ‘127 provinces.’
8.3. Most believe that Xerxes is most likely the king referred to in this book.
9. VS 1:2-4 - “2 in those days as King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne which was at the citadel in Susa, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his princes and attendants, the army officers of Persia and Media, the nobles and the princes of his provinces being in his presence. 4 And he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.” – Here we see that King Ahasuerus was sitting on his throne and decided to have banquet for ‘all his princes and attendants’ and that he displayed the various riches of his royal glory, splendor, and majesty for 180 days
9.1. Susa is the city which is also called Shushan. Harper’s Bible Dictionary writes the following about his city:
Shushan (sho̅o̅ʹshahn), the ancient capital of Elam (the southwestern area of modern Iran), which reached its height of importance as the residence and especially the winter capital of the kings of Persia. Called ‘Susa the capital’ in Esther 1:2 (and Neh. 1:1), it provides the setting for the story of Esther and Mordecai. Daniel is also placed in Shushan during the reign of Belshazzar (Dan. 8:2).
Archaeological work has determined the outlines of the history of Shushan from the fourth millennium b.c. until after its capture by Arabian armies in the seventh century a.d. Excavation has centered on the impressive remains of the royal palace and city as well as the acropolis. Shiite Muslim tradition later located Daniel’s tomb there. The city was also the site of a huge marriage ceremony of about ten thousand men from the army of Alexander the Great with Persian women in 324 b.c.
9.2. The Pulpit Commentary writes this: “Persian kings, according to Ctesias and Duris, ordinarily entertained at their table 15,000 persons! This is of course an exaggeration; but there can be no doubt that their hospitality was on a scale unexampled in modern times. The vast pillared halls of the Persepolitan and Susan palaces could accommodate many hundreds if not thousands.”
9.3. King Ahasuerus was showing off his own greatness amidst great pomp, as the text tells us here: ‘he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty for many days, 180 days.’
9.4. King Ahasuerus in our story here brings to mind a story of king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in Daniel 4:28-32 which occorred after he had accomplished some things and then made a huge statue of himself which he forced every one to worship: “28 “All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king. 29 “Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. 30 “The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’ 31 “While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, 32 and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’” King Nebuchadnezzar was as filled up with pride and vain glory just as was king Ahasuerus in our study. Then, king Nebuchadnezzar was disciplined by the Lord and suddenly went completely insane and ate grass with the animals, didn’t cut his hair or fingernails, and ran all over the countryside until seven years were completed and he suddenly acknowledged God’s greatness over his and how that the Lord is sovereign and raises me up in power and brings them down, opposes the proud and exalts the humble: Daniel 4:34-37, “34 “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’ 36 “At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me. 37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”” King Ahasuerus also should have acknowledged God and His power, might, and majesty and that it is the Lord who raises up and brings down leaders. He too should have realized how small and insignificant he was in comparison with the creator of all.
10. VS 1:5-7 - “5 When these days were completed, the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all the people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of the garden of the king’s palace. 6 There were hangings of fine white and violet linen held by cords of fine purple linen on silver rings and marble columns, and couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden vessels of various kinds, and the royal wine was plentiful according to the king’s bounty.” – A seven day banquet for all of the people followed the sixth month one for the nobles and all his attendants, and at this banquet there were beautiful and extravagant hangings of linen and silver rings, and their were marble columns and couches of gold and silver on a mosaic of pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones
10.1. The Pulpit Commentary states the following about the ‘court of the garden’ in the citadel of Susa where this seven day banquet for all of the people was held: “The “court of the garden” is probably the entire space surrounding the central hall of thirty-six pillars at Susa, including the three detached porticoes of twelve pillars each, described by Mr. Loftus in his ‘Chaldea and Susiana’ (pp. 365-372). This is a space nearly 350 feet long by 250 wide, with a square of 145 feet taken out of it for the central building. The area exceeds 60,000 square feet.”
11. VS 1:8 - “8 The drinking was done according to the law, there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person.” – A law was passed that though wine was in abundance at the feast that no one should feel in compulsion to drink too much, and that none should be drunken
11.1. Here we see that during this week of feasting of all the people in Susa, that the king had given orders to follow a law he had enacted, and that each of the officials of his household were not to compel anyone to drink too much. So, while everyone was free to drink as they desired no one was expected or encouraged to become drunken.
11.2. This law that had been enacted may have forbidden excessive drunkenness.
12. VS 1:9 - “9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus.” – Queen Vashti gave a week long banquet for the women in the palace
12.1. History records that Xerxes wife was “Amestris,” who was the daughter of Otanes. The name of ‘Vashti’ may have been a name by which she was known because if fit her character, for her name means “sweetest.” Vashti surely did not deserve what the king did in putting her away because she was not willing to humiliate and shame herself in front of him and his drunken friends.
12.2. Typical eastern customs are reflected in this verse. Men and women were not seen together in public in this day, men and women did not take meals together, and women in general did not travel far from their homes.
13. VS 1:10-12 - “10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him.” – At the end of this seven days of feasting, the king was merry with wine and he commanded that Queen Vashti come out before them all with her royal crown on in order that she might show off her beauty to the people, but he refused to come at the king’s command, and the king became very angry
13.1. It is a foolish thing to allow yourself to become overcome with displays of anger, especially in public:
13.1.1. Anger is an embarrassment.
13.1.2. Public display of anger is contemptible and shameful.
13.1.3. Decisions made in anger are regrettable.
13.1.4. Statements made in anger cannot be taken back and cause tremendous hurt and pain and can ruin relationships.
13.2. The scripture teaches that a woman is to be submissive to her husband (see Eph. 5 for instance), however if a woman’s husband asks her to do things which compromises her conscience then she is responsible to obey the Lord and not her husband. Husbands should never demand that their wives perform something for which the wife is not comfortable, because of her modesty. The scripture says that the marriage is honorable among all and the bed undefiled (Heb. 13:4), however marriage partners must never force their spouse against their will to go beyond what they feel is respectable or within their bounds of modesty. 1 Peter 3:7 has this admonition for husbands: “7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.”
13.3. This was a very unreasonable thing for even a king to demand of his wife. Had Vashti come and shown off her beauty before the king and his drunken friends she would have lost the king’s respect in the process.
13.4. Not only was Vashti a very sweet person, as we saw that her name implies, but she also was very beautiful.
14. VS 1:13-22 - “13 Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times—for it was the custom of the king so to speak before all who knew law and justice 14 and were close to him: Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who had access to the king’s presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom— 15 “According to law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?” 16 In the presence of the king and the princes, Memucan said, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 “For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women causing them to look with contempt on their husbands by saying, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in to his presence, but she did not come.’ 18 “This day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s conduct will speak in the same way to all the king’s princes, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger. 19 “If it pleases the king, let a royal edict be issued by him and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media so that it cannot be repealed, that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she. 20 “When the king’s edict which he will make is heard throughout all his kingdom, great as it is, then all women will give honor to their husbands, great and small.” 21 This word pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed. 22 So he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province according to its script and to every people according to their language, that every man should be the master in his own house and the one who speaks in the language of his own people.” – The king sought the advice of his counselors who were close to him about what he should do since the queen refused his request to come to him and show off her beauty, and their input which he followed was that the queen should lose her position and that another more worthy should be found to be queen, and in this way the edict that would be sent out would cause the women in the kingdom to give honor to their husbands
14.1. We see here that the next day the king Ahasuerus’ temper had cooled some.
14.2. King Ahasuerus shows that he depended heavily upon the advice of his advisors. He asks them what they believe that he should do as a result of Vashti refusing his command to come and display her beauty to those at the banquet the previous evening.
14.3. The scripture tells us that it is a good thing to seek out godly advisors in the decisions we make:
14.3.1. Proverbs 11:14: “14 Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory.”
14.3.2. Proverbs 24:6: “6 For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory.”
14.4. This story shows us however that it is important to pray over the advice we receive from others, even those that we trust a great deal. Sometimes even good counselors, and even every counselor, can be wrong. It we do not pray about the counsel and advice we receive from others then we end up fearing man instead of God.
14.5. The counselors tell Ahasuerus that if he doesn’t put away Vashti and remove her as queen, then every other woman in the empire is going to despise her husband, and not obey his every word.
14.6. This story also reveals how the cultures at this point in time were repressive to women. A woman was expected to do everything that her husband commanded her to do, and in fact she was considered to be property of her husband and he could put her away for anything he desired. The effect of Christianity in elevating the status and quality of life among God’s people for women is evident whenever we study the ancient cultures.
15. CONCLUSIONS:
15.1. Husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way.
15.2. Wives, if your husband asks you to do something that is outside of God’s will and an offense to your conscience, you must follow God.
15.3. Seek counsel from godly mature believers, but pray about the advice you receive before acting on it, even when it comes from godly counselors.